TOWN MANAGER'S MESSAGE:

The year 2025 is over, and as we look back there has been much accomplished. The Town of Coventry had very productive year. We saw major improvements to safety and the condition of our State and local roads. Route 44 was completed in August and various other Town roads and drainage basins were repaired throughout the summer and fall. With the assistance of State grants the Town was able to make roadway, sidewalk and parking improvements to Miller-Richardson Park, repair a 20-year-old drainage issue in the Village on School Street, and treat Coventry Lake with an herbicide to combat the spreading of hydrilla. Grant funding paid for 60% to 80% of these projects. The Town completed the nearly two-year long project of installing new ventilators, heating and air conditioning in the classrooms at Coventry High School. This $12.5 million project was funded over 52% with State grant funds.

The Town has for years been successful with grant projects. Many of our recent grant projects are in engineering this winter and will be ready to go out for bids in spring and then be ready for summer construction. The first of these projects is the Plains Road Water Line Project. Voters approved this $2.6 million project in May 2025. The project will provide clean potable water to homes along Plains Road that have been impacted by salt contamination. The Town has been able to secure approximately 77% in grants and subsidies to reduce the cost to our taxpayers. Our second project is the Main Street Sidewalk project. This Community Connectivity Grant project will provide a sidewalk which will run along Main Street from Hemlock Point near Coventry High School to Winterberry near Lisicke Beach. This long-awaited project was held up last year due to the CDOT requiring additional easements for retaining walls. It is now ready to go forward. This is part of a larger planned project to circle Coventry Lake with a walkable pathway. The third project is the Main Street/South Street Pedestrian Crossing Project. This project, a Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP)grant project, will provide safety signage, flashing lights and curb ramps at crossings on Main Street in the village and Cross Street and some sidewalks on South Street. The fourth and most complicated project, the South Street/Swamp Street Road Improvement Project, is a large road re-construction project that will re-align the road and improve safety. This project is funded by the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) in the amount of $2.4 million.

During 2025, the Town has been evaluating the effectiveness of our technology and making improvements. We upgraded the antiquated tax collection software with a savings in our annual cost and partnered with the Board of Education to replace our shared computer network servers. As the workload increases each year for our administrative staff, we are continuing to see how we can do things smarter using new technology.

The Town staff is now looking ahead to our upcoming budget season, and we are sharpening our pencils to make sure that we can provide the quality services Coventry residents have come to expect at a reasonable and fair tax rate. Currently department directors are putting in their requests for funding. The Town Manager’s proposed budget, after preparation in February, will be presented at a public hearing on Thursday March 5, 2026, at the Lecture Hall in Coventry High School. At that point residents will have an estimate at where the 2026-27 tax rate may be set, however the final tax rate will likely be adopted by Town Council in May 2026 after the public adoption of the 2026-27 Town Council Proposed Budget.

Looking ahead to our next budget, the Town has additional capital improvement projects funded by State and Federal grants, many including road and bridge improvements. These projects are in preliminary engineering and are anticipated to reach construction stage in 2027, 2028 or in later years of the Capital Improvement Budget. You can find more information about these projects on my bi-monthly projects/issues update memo, which can be found on our website at https://www.coventry-ct.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=112&Type=&ADID=.

As citizens of Coventry, we are proud of our old historic town. However, our age means we do have some old and failing infrastructure. As we begin the budgeting process, our staff continues to seek State and Federal grants to make our local dollars go further. Unfortunately, not everything needed to operate a Town is funded by grants. Winter is “Budget Season” at Town Hall, and so we will be working with our departments, agencies and Town Council to address our Town goals as we work to build the 2026-27 Annual Budget. I encourage you all as citizens to become informed about the Town’s budget and to participate in the process. Should you wish to contact me, please call the office at 860-742-6324 or email jdrumm@coventry-ct.gov. You can also follow the Town Manager's page on Facebook for frequent updates.

Sincerely,

James Drumm

COMING EVENTS:

Sun 1/4: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Indoors at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Season runs through February 22, 2026 (no market 12/28). Visit our website for more information.

Tues 1/6-1/27: T.O.P.S. - Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5:15-6:45 PM, Second Congregational Church, 1746 Boston Turnpike (Rt. 44). A non-profit weight loss support group. See or call 860-944-4945 for info concerning weekly dues (determined by each chapter) and yearly membership fee set by the TOPS organization. Website

Sun 1/11: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Indoors at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Season runs through February 22, 2026 (no market 12/28). Visit our website for more information.

Weds 1/14: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

Thurs 1/15: Substance Use Hope & Support Group, 6-7 PM, 1153 Main Street (park in side lot). Searching for a compassionate group that truly understands your concern? TriCircle offers FREE support in a group setting without stigma or judgment regarding your loved one's substance use. Facilitated by two professionals, one licensed and with with lived experience. More information. Request meeting link.

Thurs 1/15: Program, Thomas Knowlton and Knowlton's Rangers, 7 PM, Booth & Dimock Library 1106 Main Street. Knowlton's Rangers was the first Intelligence organization in the American military, formed in 1776 by General George Washington, led by Colonel Thomas Knowlton and included Nathan Hale among its ranks. Join the Coventry Historical Society for a program on the life of Thomas Knowlton, see the typical "uniform" and associated accoutrements used by the Rangers, and listen to period music by members of the Nathan Hale Fife & Drum Corps. Free and open to the public. More information.

Sat 1/17: Drive-thru/Take-out Dinner, Second Congregational Church of Coventry, 1746 Boston Turnpike. Roast turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, carrots and dessert. $15. Place orders by calling 860-742-1616 or email secondchurch@sbcglobal.net and indicate pick-up time of 5:00 or 5:30 PM. Correct amount of cash or check is required. Drive down from church parking lot to the Community House located across from Coventry Public Market.

Sun 1/18: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Indoors at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Season runs through February 22, 2026 (no market 12/28). Visit our website for more information.

Thurs 1/22: Office hours with Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas, 11 AM - 12 PM, Coventry Center, 172 Lake Street, or 6:30-7:30 PM at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main Street. Come ask a question or share a concern.

Sun 1/25: Coventry Winter Farmers' Market, 10 AM - 12:30 PM, Indoors at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road. Season runs through February 22, 2026 (no market 12/28). Visit our website for more information.

Weds 1/28: Mobile Foodshare, 10-10:30 AM, First Congregational Church @ St. Mary's, 1600 Main Street. An outdoor food distribution service for persons of low income. Text FOODSHARE to 85511 to receive the mobile schedule and cancellations directly on your phone. More info.

For additional information about LID practices, please scan QR Code.

2025 COVENTRY STATE OF THE LAKE FORUM:

The Town of Coventry’s annual State of the Lake Forum for 2025 took place at 7:00 pm on September 16, 2025 at Mill Brook Place. The Forum was moderated by Debby Zeppa, Chair of the Coventry Lake Advisory & Monitoring Committee. The featured presenter was Dr. Ben Burpee, Limnologist and Senior Technical Specialist at GZA GeoEnvironmental, responsible for supervising the research and analysis underlying this year’s report to the community on the health of Coventry Lake (Wangumbaug).

In his presentation “A Tale of Two Lakes” Dr. Burpee reported that while current water clarity and water quality conditions in the lake are good, total phosphorous levels in the lake are gradually but relentlessly increasing year over year. He expressed concern that intensive development, loss of undisturbed woodland and deterioration of the lake perimeter will cause incremental, cumulative increase in watershed and internal nutrient loading, resulting in future cyanobacteria blooms. He suggested that management approaches to reduce stormwater runoff, such as lakeside plantings which mimic the function of undisturbed woodland, are among the best strategies and are congruent with low impact development (LID) principles.

That presentation was followed by a panel discussion on “Low Impact Development” (LID), followed by audience Q&A. Participants included: Lori Mathieu, Vice Chair of Coventry Inland Wetlands Agency and member of it’s Low Impact Development Work Group; Steve Trinkaus, P.E., Trinkaus Engineering, specializing in land development and LID strategies; and Savannah Kitchin, Town of Columbia Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agent and Zoning Enforcement Officer. Ms. Mathieu served as moderator.

Panel members provided practical examples of LID best practices and described relevant instances where those tactics have been impactful, including on nearby Columbia Lake and surrounding watershed zones. Ms. Mathieu called attention to the creation of the Inland Wetlands Agency’s Low Impact Development Work Group, charged to identify and seek adoption and implementation of effective LID lake protection strategies, techniques and design criteria for land use planning in Coventry. She concluded by inviting Coventry residents to get actively involved in promoting public understanding, support and implementation of LID best practices to protect future water quality and the viability of Coventry Lake as a quality-of-life recreational asset supporting the entire Coventry community.

NEWS FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT:

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP/CHAP) is open at Community Action Agency sites around the state! Coventry Human Services 860-742-5324 and Coventry Senior Center 860-742-3525 are agency sites serving Coventry residents. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! For more information, eligibility, and to schedule an appointment, please call the Human Services Department or the Senior Center.

YOUTH PROGRAM

Safe@Home Class on February 17^th 10:30 AM – 12 PM

This class is designed to prepare 4^th-6^th grade students to be safe when they are home alone. Students learn how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses. Call Madison Baranoski, Youth Services Coordinator at (860) 742-5324 by February 3^rd to register.

Food Bank info
THANK YOU to everyone who donates to our Food Bank!
Food bank is by appointment ONLY! In addition to being scheduled on Fridays 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m., appointments have been extended to Thursdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. If you’d like to drop off donations, please do so during those days and times at the Community Center (120 Lake Street). If you are not able to drop off during these days and times, please call us to let us know when you can drop off items. You can also ship food bank items to Coventry Human Services! Please make the shipping address: Coventry Human Services 1712 Main St. Coventry, CT 06238.

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Top photo: Coventry Village on a snowy day. Photo by Laura Stone.

To list your non-profit organization's event in this bulletin, contact Laura Stone by email by the 15th of the prior month.

TOWN MANAGER'S MESSAGE:

UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS:

HOLIDAYS:

COMING EVENTS:

coventry parks & recreation:

NEWS FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT: